Barbara J Friedel

Barbara Jane Friedel was born to Ila (Cobb) and Ward Flannigan on March 6th, 1938, in Stuart, NE.

She was called home to be with her Lord while surrounded by her loving family on October 11, 2025.

Barbara was raised in Stuart, NE along with her five siblings in a home filled with faith, love and laughter.

She attended Stuart Public School and graduated class of 1955. After graduation she moved to Omaha, NE where she worked.

She returned to the Stuart area where she married James Friedel on October 18, 1956. To this union four children were born. The family lived on a farm south of Stuart where they operated a dairy farm for many years.

Barb found a calling to work as a Para Professional in the country school system where she touched so many lives. She loved each of her students as if they were family.

In 2020 Jim and Barb moved to Kearney, NE so that they could be closer to family.

Barb loved a good book, playing piano, going to horse shows, doing puzzles and baking which everyone got to enjoy. With a song forever in her heart, Barb's gentle humming filled every room with warmth and joy. The thing she loved the most was time spent with family.

Barb is survived by her son Tim Friedel (Janice) of Kearney; daughters Sue Maxson (Byron) of Kearney, Lea Jane Friedel of Kearney, and Marcee Johnson (Tom) of Kearney; 7 grandchildren, Jamie Bentz (Randy), Timothy Friedel (Teckla), Dustin Maxson (Racheal), Jared Maxson, Kylee Vreugdenhil (Tyler), Skylar Vincent (Zach), and Derek Johnson; and 8 great grandchildren; Brothers Randy Flannigan of Loveland, CO and Jeff Flannigan of San Diego, CA.

She was preceded in death by her parents Ward and Ila Flannigan, her husband James, brothers Dan and Roger Flannigan, and one sister Dianne Ienn.